HCR 16: Reaffirm commitment to Taiwan; regards Taiwan status

Reaffirming Ohio's commitment to strengthening and deepening its sister-state relationship with Taiwan, urging all Ohio businesses to refer to Taiwan, the Republic of China, as Taiwan, opposing the People's Republic of China's misuse of United Nations Resolution 2758, and continuing its support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations that impact the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan and support Taiwan's aspirations to make more contributions in international societies.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE SENATE CONCURRING):

1. WHEREAS, In 1985, the State of Ohio signed a sister-state relationship agreement with Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, and ever since Ohio and Taiwan have enjoyed strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchanges, and tourism; and
2. WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the State of Ohio; and
3. WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's second-largest trading partner; Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner of the United States, and bilateral trade reached more than \$158.6 billion USD in 2024; and
4. WHEREAS, The total agricultural trade between Taiwan and the United States reached \$4.67 billion. Taiwan imported nearly \$3.8 billion worth of United States farm products in 2024, making it the largest market for United States agricultural products overall, the fourth largest market on a per capita basis among the top 10 United States agricultural export destinations, and the seventh largest market for United States soybeans and corn individually; and
5. WHEREAS, Due to its high quality produce, the United States remains one of Taiwan's largest sources of agricultural products, supplying more than one-fifth of the country's major agricultural imports; and
6. WHEREAS, Taiwan and the State of Ohio have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of future growth, and Taiwan was Ohio's fourth-largest export market in Asia in 2023, with \$904.23 million worth of Ohio goods exported to Taiwan. Taiwan was also Ohio's fourth-largest import market in Asia in 2023, with \$1.694 billion worth of Taiwan goods imported; and
7. WHEREAS, To strengthen the Taiwan-Ohio bilateral economic relationship, it is essential to support Ohio businesses to enhance their economic engagement with Taiwan based on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), as the act stipulates that "[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with such respect to Taiwan," and it is legitimate for Ohio businesses to refer to Taiwan as Taiwan in conducting business with Taiwan; and
8. WHEREAS, Negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement, the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity between Taiwan and the United States are an important step toward further strengthening bilateral trade between the two countries, thereby increasing Ohio's exports to Taiwan and creating bilateral investment and technical collaboration through mutual trade agreements; and
9. WHEREAS, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 cannot be used to exclude Taiwan from participation in the United Nations system or other international forums, and does not establish the United Nation's stance on Taiwan's ultimate political status, nor does it affirm the People's Republic of China's "one China" principle; and
10. WHEREAS, Taiwan has undertaken in its international relations "Integrated Diplomacy," highlighting three key pillars: Value-based Diplomacy, Alliance-based Diplomacy, and Economic and Trade Diplomacy, in which Taiwan aims to safeguard and bolster its role in global supply chains and strengthen exchanges with like-minded countries, exerting efforts to implement five key trust industry sectors identified by President Lai Ching-te, which include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defense technology, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications, to not only strengthen Taiwan's critical position in the global supply chain, but also foster closer ties with diplomatic allies, so as to improve its overall security and resilience; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, reaffirm our commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Ohio and Taiwan, the Republic of China; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our support for the Taiwan Relations Act and support Ohio businesses referring to Taiwan as Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we endorse Taiwan's efforts to secure the signing of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity with the United States, and reiterate our support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the State of Ohio and Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, such as the United Nations, World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Criminal Police Organization, which impact the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan, and support Taiwan's aspirations to make more contributions to international societies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the United States Secretary of State, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois, the members of the Ohio congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio.